Page 74 of A Lot Like Adiós
“Celestial Destiny? Of course.”
She shot him an amused smirk. “No. Our fake dating story.”
“Oh. Yeah.”
She took his arm and they entered the venue together.
THE BALLROOM WASa madhouse. The Puerto Rican Rodriguez cousins were mixed in with Ronnie’s Jamaican relatives and her husband’s equally large Mexican extended family, and likely his ex-wife’s family too. Michelle couldn’t be totally sure who was related to whom. A cacophony of Spanish and English and Spanglish and Jamaican patois threatened to overpower the music supplied by the DJ, who was one of Michelle’s distant cousins.
Eyebrows raised when they entered the room, and Michelleshoved her anxiety down into a little ball. This was the first time she’d ever brought someone to visit her family, and she was sure they were going to be completely extra about it.
Michelle and Gabe greeted everyone with a kiss on the cheek, answering each obligatory “¿Cómo estás?” with English—Michelle—and Spanish—Gabe. They made their way through a crowd of tíos, tías, and cousins, many of whom remembered Gabe from Michelle’s childhood birthday parties, before finally reaching Michelle’s parents, Dominic and Valentina. They had returned from Florida that morning and retrieved their car from Dominic’s brother who lived in Queens.
“There you are!” Michelle’s mom reached for her, giving her a hug and a kiss that would undoubtedly leave pink lipstick on her face. Sure enough, Valentina swiped a thumb over Michelle’s cheek as she eased back. “You look great, honey. Love this orange color on you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” But Valentina, barely Michelle’s height with wavy black hair and a deep tan from the Florida sun, was already turning to Gabe and giving him a look up and down. “Well! You sure grew up nicely, Gabriel.”
Michelle pinched the bridge of her nose. “Oh my god, Mom. Don’t flirt with him.”
Her dad, a quiet Italian man with an olive-toned complexion and thinning brown hair, stepped forward to give Michelle a hug. “Hi, honey,” he said. “Now what’s going on here? I didn’t understand your mother’s explanation.”
Michelle repeated the lie about reconnecting on Instagram. Her dad grumbled, “I still don’t see why you had to bring him tomyhouse,” but otherwise, he was civil.
Until Michelle overheard him telling Gabe, “Remember what I said.”
Abuelo came over to greet them. Michelle gave him a big kiss on his lined brown cheek and a tight hug. Then, while her parents were distracted, she pulled Gabe aside. “What did my dad mean?”
Gabe ducked his head and scratched the back of his neck. “Oh, when I was around... twelve, I guess, your dad made some light threats about what would happen if I ever touched you.”
Michelle narrowed her eyes. “Like what?”
“Vague stuff, like...” Gabe made a menacing face and drew his finger across his throat.
“Jeez, Dad. Way to be a stereotype.” She shook her head. “Is that why you never made a move until after we graduated high school?”
“What? No. I wasn’t even thinking about any of that yet. And later... I didn’t think you were open to being more.”
She sighed. They’d both been so foolish then, Gabe too scared to make a move and Michelle too scared to hope.
Maybe the timing was better now. Maybe she didn’t have to be afraid of wanting more.
Valentina butted in. “You have to say hi to Abuela. She’s over there by the cake table.”
Michelle gave Gabe’s bicep a squeeze, as if to draw strength from him. “Gird your loins, buddy. Into the dragon’s den we go.”
They made their way to where Esperanza Rodriguez, clad in a yellow floral dress with lots of ruffles, held court next to a four-tiered pink-and-gold cake topped with a glittery numberfifteen. Multiple family members stopped them as they went, and they had to pause to greet each one. By the time they reached her grandmother, Michelle was clinging to Gabe’s arm for dear life.
“You all right there?” he asked out of the corner of his mouth.
“This is the worst part. Let’s get it over with.” Michelle loved her grandmother dearly, but the woman was a force to be reckoned with, and you never knew what was going to come out of her mouth.
Esperanza whooped with delight when they approached her, and Michelle released Gabe to give her grandma a hug.
“Hi, Abuela.”
“Ah, Michie!” Esperanza enfolded Michelle in her vanilla-scented embrace before saying in a loud whisper, “¡Por fin tienes un novio!”
Michelle winced, but when she pulled away, she fixed an easy smile on her face. “Yup. Finally got myself a boyfriend.”
